UNGA general debate concludes, Security Council passes resolution over Haiti

The general debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) concluded on Monday at the UN Headquarters in New York, and the UN Security Council also passed a resolution over the turmoil in Haiti on the same day.

The last countries to address the assembly included Algeria, Mozambique, and Syria. Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh said Israeli authorities have chosen to drag the Middle East region into a serious escalation with the support from the United States.

"Israeli forces have scaled up their attacks on countries of the region, including my country Syria, targeting vital civilian facilities, residential buildings, and even diplomatic premises," he said.

Meanwhile, at the UN Security Council, a resolution was passed on Monday to extend the mandate of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti.

The United States and Ecuador had asked for a plan to elevate the security mission into a formal UN peacekeeping operation, but China said the environment in Haiti is not conducive to that, adding that the UN had sent multiple peacekeeping operations to Haiti in the past, but the results were not satisfactory.

"Peacekeeping operations are not a panacea, let alone a backup. What's more, Haiti does not have the conditions for the deployment of peacekeeping operations right now. Haiti has long been mired in multiple crises and if there's no legitimate, effective and accountable government, it is difficult for any external support to have a lasting effect," said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

Haiti's interim government says a peacekeeping mission is necessary, and that the current MSS mission has significant limitations, with lacking of financial support from member states being the major headache.

"Clearly, the mission still faces severe limitations under the current circumstances. The financial and material support that the MSS greatly needs remains insufficient. Moreover, there is no doubt that the mission must be strengthened to be fully operational, and in this context, the transformation of the MSS into a UN peacekeeping operation is not only necessary but also urgent," said Antonio Rodrigue, Haiti's permanent representative to the United Nations.

UNGA general debate concludes, Security Council passes resolution over Haiti

Competent Chinese authorities have handled the case of suspected espionage activities conducted by Philippine nationals in China strictly in accordance with the facts and law, and will protect the lawful rights and interests of the relevant personnel in processing the case, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Lin Jian, the spokesman, made the statement at a regular press conference in Beijing in response to a media inquiry on a recent case of suspected espionage activities conducted by Philippine nationals in China.

"China's competent departments have released specific information on the suspected espionage activities conducted by Philippine nationals in China. China's judicial organs and other competent authorities have handled the case in strict accordance with the facts and law and will protect the lawful rights and interests of the relevant personnel. The Philippines has recently concocted multiple so-called 'Chinese spy cases'. Without clearly ascertaining the facts, it handled the cases based on the presumption of guilt and has stigmatized and politicized the cases. China firmly opposes this and has lodged serious protests with the Philippines side multiple times. China urges the Philippines to stop shadow-chasing and earnestly protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals in the country," said the spokesman.

China handles case of suspected espionage by Philippine nationals strictly in line with law: spokesman